Sophomore Year

There are many reasons to attend college, just as there is many reasons not to attend. However, at TMA we believe in providing students with as many opportunities as possible. Going to college and earning a degree can provide students with many opportunities for the future including more options for jobs and higher paying jobs. Please explore the links below to read various reasons that a college education is beneficial.

Is College Worth it? Clearly, New Data Say

College: What it's All About and Why it Matters

Top 10 Reasons Why College is Important

5 Reasons Why College is Still a Good Idea

Level of Education and Average Earnings from 2018

1. Keep your grades up

While this seems obvious, your grades from 9th-11th grade will determine the Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) you will send to colleges via applications in the Fall of your Senior year. Even if you have struggle with good grades in 9th and 10th grade, good grades in 11th grade can demonstrate a trend of effort that colleges can consider in their admissions process. The better your grades are, the more opportunities you will have for college options and scholarships.

2. Be nice to your teachers

Your teachers will be writing your college recommendation letters, so give them good things to write about! Participate in class, be a leader in class, and most of all, ask for help when there are things you don't understand!

3. Participate in something you care about

Whether it's step, flag football, cooking, or painting, colleges are looking for students who dedicate time to a passion of theirs. If you are interested in something career related, find an internship! If arts like music, dance, and theater are more your thing, join a club, start a club, or participate in an already existing program! The college counseling office can assist in researching opportunities that fit your interests and availability. 

4. Volunteer and increase Community Service Hours (preferably for something you care about)

TMA teachers and programming offers a lot of opportunities to volunteer. Additionally, it is possible to seek out opportunities that pertain to your interests! Record your service hours online at x2vol. The college counseling office can assist in researching opportunities that fit your interests and availability. 

5. Study for the PSAT and SAT

Free test prep at Khan Academy. Studies show that 20 hours of Khan is associated with an average 115 point increase. There are also several practice books in the TMA library. Talk to Ms. Barker.

6. Research Schools (see below) and start a preliminary list of schools you want to apply for

7. Meet with College reps

Admissions Officers from different colleges visit TMA almost every day. You can see who's coming, and sign up on Naviance, or you can see the list below. Get a pass in the morning from Mr. Bruno or Ms. Jackson in room 006.

8. Get familiar with college lingo. See glossaries below.

9. Apply to scholarships available for underclassmen in high school! See below.

9. If you are considering options outside of college, check out our "Career Education" page underneath the "Senior" tab.

The best resource for researching schools is your Naviance Student account.  You can use their search engines to compare colleges (see "Find Your Fit- SuperMatch"). You can also view scattergrams to see how you compare against previous students applying to similar colleges.  We also strongly encourage you to visit with college reps during their visits to TMA. Click on this link for instructions on how to log in to your Naviance account.  

Additional resources for researching colleges:

• Big Future

• College Data

• YOUR COLLEGE COUNSELOR!

We encourage students to come in and meet with us to discuss who they are in relation to the types of colleges that might be a good fit.

September-December

• Confirm that your courses will put you on the right track for college admission.

• Start developing a résumé—a record of your accomplishments, activities, and work experience. This will be an important part of your college application.

• If you haven’t participated in many activities outside of class, now is the time to sign up. Consider clubs at school, team sports, leadership roles, or involvement in a religious or civic community group.

• Take the PSAT.

January- February

• Explore summer opportunities on college campuses—a great way to find out what college life is all about.

March- August

• Start researching colleges and universities online. Go to college fairs and open houses. 

• Begin planning college visits. Try to visit colleges near you over spring break. Include a large, medium size, and small campus.

• Develop a preliminary list of colleges that interest you. 

• Consider lining up a summer job or internship.